The Lovereading4Kids comment

Absolutely gripping, this is a brilliantly witty story of a computer game with a difference. When Oscar fires up his father’s new work computer he finds his way into a computer game with a difference. Creating his warrior Montroso on screen is one thing but when Monstroso comes alive – especially as the Bloob Feaster rather than the Blood Feaster on account of Oscar’s mistyping, total chaos follows. Will Oscar be able to manage his monster and get everything under control before his parents come home? Reality and fantasy are cleverly intertwined in this entertaining story. This is just one of a number of Pocket Money Puffins. To view others click here.

Synopsis

Monstroso: A Pocket Money Puffin by Charlie Higson

Oscar is not looking forward to Grandad coming to look after him at the weekend - it means he'll have to play endless rounds of chess or Monopoly, instead of war games on his computer. But when he finds Dad's ancient laptop in the study, he can't resist logging on to something called Project X - and all too soon Oscar creates a real live warrior, who is programmed to obey his every command. However Monstroso's wires are more than a little crossed, and Oscar finds himself in all sorts of trouble...Crazy fighting and monsters abound in Charlie's Higson's highly entertaining story for younger readers.

About the Author

Charlie Higson is a well-known writer of screenplays and novels, including the phenomenally successful Young Bond series. He is also a performer and co-creator of 'The Fast Show' and Radio Four's award-winning 'Down the Line' series - recently made into a popular BBC2 sketch show, 'Bellamy's People'. Charlie is a big fan of horror films and is now hoping to give a great many children sleepless nights with his The Enemy series.

The Young Bond books have, to date, sold over a million copies in the UK and been translated into 24 different languages. The Young Bond titles are included in a recent list of books complied by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the School Libraries Association to encourage school boys to read (www.boysintobooks.co.uk).

After studying at the University of East Anglia, Charlie formed a band, The Higsons. He then became a decorator before turning to the world of television and going into partnership with his friend Paul Whitehouse. Their successes included 'Saturday Live', the 'Harry Enfield Television Programme', 'The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer', 'Shooting Stars', 'Randall and Hopkirk, Deceased', the film 'Suite 16', 'Swiss Toni' and 'The Fast Show'.

Most recently Charlie and Paul co-produced, and performed in, the controversial and award-winning spoof radio series Down the Line for BBC Radio 4. This later became the television comedy series Bellamy’s People, on BBC 2, inspired by the Radio series.

Charlie lives in London with his wife and three sons.

Questions for Charlie Higson:

What was your inspiration for The Enemy?

George Romero’s early zombie films – Night of the Living Dead & Dawn of the Dead mostly. But there are bits of Lord of the Rings, fairy tales and the tales of the Greek heroes.

Which character was the most fun to write?

Small Sam and the Kid. They’re a good double act.

Are any of your characters based on real people?

I use my own kids and their friends for inspiration, but there is no one character that is based on one particular person.

What was the last film that blew you away?

Pan’s Labyrinth was amazing. Special effects and fantasy are used for more than just pretty pictures.

Charlie Higson loves what could be THE debut of 2011, Undead by Kirsty McKay: 'A kick-ass teen-action zombie-fest. Fast, furious, freaky, funny and seriously sick. Oh, and did I mention it kicks ass ?'